When was your first introduction to game design and what was the experience like (the first game you developed, for example)?
The first game I ever developed was a board game called Rainbow Warriors, designed to teach young people about some of the history and culture of the Hopi people. Making the game was long before I had any idea that I would end up working in the educational game industry but having experience designing educational board games was a huge factor in being selected as a game designer.
As a game design leader, what do you often tell your team when you first start a project since the process can sometimes be an overwhelming and long process?
One of the most essential aspects of effective game design is managing scope. When designing a game, you’re trying to solve many minor problems to get your systems to work together effectively and ultimately “land” for the players. The problem is that the easiest way to solve issues with your designs not having the intended effect is to add complexity that expands the scope. So, one of the best things you can do is to be very intentional when expanding the complexity and scope.
What do you like most about Resilient Games Studio and its approach to bringing games to market?
Resilient Games is well-positioned to produce very thoughtful and compelling games that are also very effective learning tools. Having a team that is so dedicated to both outcomes gives us a unique advantage in the quality of our products.
Do you believe educational games will be more popular in the future? Why or why not? Any specific reason why?
I believe games of all kinds are growing in popularity and that that trend will only continue. As games gain popularity and game design techniques are refined, I think you’ll see greater interest in these kinds of games. We can also expect a higher degree of trust in the idea that these games can be effective educational tools.
What are your favorite games to play and why are they your favorite? Do you they take a certain approach? Do you like the design and functionality?
I play many society management and strategy games like Civilization or Total War. I like engaging with systems that are trying to say something (intentional or not) about how the world works, past or present. Much of our work involves trying to unobscure the systems that drive the world that young people live in. I’m always interested in how others try to articulate complex world systems.
Resilient Games is well-positioned to produce very thoughtful and compelling games that are also very effective learning tools. Having a team that is so dedicated to both outcomes gives us a unique advantage in the quality of our products.
As we reach out to more potential partners, we get to hear about some interesting and wonderful work being done in our neighbourhood. The third annual International Games Day @...
